The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-06

world of thought. They are to be no
ticed as the evidences that the churches
have much to learn in the very spirit of
the gospel they defend. But over
against them we are bound to set the
encouraging tokens of active thought,
broadening sympathies, deeper insight
into the Christ-life, and the Christ-soul.
Recent events have furnished a striking
lesson which cannot fail to impress the
thoughtful people of our time. They
have demonstrated that men are think
ing, and that they are not content to
stick fast in the dogmas of an absolute
past. We have been witnesses to refu-
tation of Macaulay's fippant speech,
that theology is not q progressive sci
ence. 1t is on the move in our day, as
it has ever been, correcting its own
errors and refining its own crudeness.
One sign of this fact we may find in
the much mooted Andover controversy.
1t is sign of progress when conserv-
ative theological man, under the charge
of conservative denomination, stands
back of the thought which so startles
fossil orthodoxy to-day, viz, that there
will be an opportunity after death for
the acceptance or the rejection of Christ,
for all who have not had knowledge of
the Christ in this world. That is
gain on rigid Calvinism. 1t is a great
advance on average orthodoxy. It is a
great step toward the Reinstatement of
justice, as one of the elements of the
divine nature, which all the Augustinian
theology has dethroned. 1t is cause
for congratulation that one wing in the
Congregational church is more than
half convinced that it would be an in
stance of divine injustice for God to
doom men to perdition for not accept
ing Saviour of whom theyn heard.
1t is evident that new light is breaking
on these benighted theological regions.
The old and narrow doctrines will not
contain all the truths men perceive.
This ''new departure" is a reaching up
for higher truth. 1t is provision of
larger vessels than those which have
heretofore held the faith of Christen-
dom. 1t is proof of decided advance
in theology.
In the recent phases the controversy
has assumed sign which ought to be
hailed with even more gladness than
the little gain for truth in doctrine
which this movement signifies. It has
revealed anew disposition in the church.
1t has brought into activity in an effect
ual way the new feeling growing in the
Christian church, that the process of
separation on slight pretexts has gone
far enough. There is no doubt that
the feeling in the Congregational ranks,
upon this matter called the Andover
controversy, is very bitter and very in
tense. There have been times in the
history of the church when it would
have been the pretext for new schism,
and considered very sufficient one at
that. Sects have been founded on
less radical difference in doctrines and
policies than this which divides the
Congregational church. But the one
unmistakable fact which marks this
controversy, is the determined resolve
in the minds of all parties to it, that it
shall not be made the cause of a sepa-
ration that nobody shall go out, and
nobody be driven out of the Congrega-
tional church on account of these new
opinions. 1t is the present purpose of, no
doubt, majority in the church to cling
together. They will not suffer them
selves to be divided by new question
of doctrine. We hail it as an index of
the return of a larger and more cath
Ollie spirit in the church. Men are tired
of the process of sect-making. They
do not think it necessary that each new
theological idea shall have new sect to
maintain it. They are quite ready to
insist that there shall be room enough
given in the various churches for a
larger latitude of intellectual belief.
The multiplication of heresies has gone
far enough. Let US have no more of
it. Let us tolerate divergent views so
long as they are not radically and irrec-
oncilably at variance. Above all, "let
brotherly love prevail" That is the
attitude, and that the message of the
Congregationalists And we believe
that all the Christian world will cry
"Amen." Whatever the future may
bring forth, the attitude of these breth-
rem, thus far on this question, is full of
hope and of encouragement to the whole
Israel of God. A larger tolerance of
individual opinions inside the churches,
and no more hasty and needless schisms;
that is the practical outcome of the
Andover controversy so far as it has
developed.
THE BLASPHEMY.